synthneon | oceanview (different path) || ❝ turn the page i need to see something new. ❞

[ A gentle sound, like chimes and a hum, seem to vibrate through the door the moment he touches it. Nothing intrusive. Just a sound that may actually seem louder the more Alan attempts to listen to it. ]

｟ You called us here. We're here. ｠

[ Suddenly, the sound of heavy breathing in a diver suit. A bright light from under the door. ]

｟ Alan. Step back. ｠

[ The door swings open. The bright light floods the attic room and drowns out every shadow. There, a mam in a diving suit floats, as if he is in water. ]

{ It isn't here now. I'm here because it was written. I brought the light to set you free. You must hurry. It will know I'm here. It will be back soon. }

[ "Thomas Zane" breathes heavily in the suit as he floats to the desk. ] { It stole the skin of my Barbara a long time ago. She looks so old. }

[ The Diver turns, a clawed suit hand raising to the door he entered in. No one else is in the hallway waiting. ] { Go. Listen to the sound of the star that is here because it was written. She will guide you. }

[ As if on queue, the sound that was on the other side of the door chimes in the room. A pattern of geometric light shimmers in what looks like the downstairs. Upon reaching the downstairs, the pattern seems to be outside. Then, down the small bridge that connects the cabin to the land. Finally, up the hill, surrounding the car that Alan had driven to get to the cabin.

As Alan reaches the car, the shimmer disappears but a hum can still be heard if his mind is clear enough. A gentle touch to his shoulders as if a familiar pair of hands are resting there. ]

｟ Around one constant they will revolve... find us. Alan, wake up. ｠

Alan, wake up!

[ Jesse's hands are on his shoulders as he comes to the waking world. Worry is clear in her eyes, hovering over him from being at his side. The room is filled with early morning light. They're not in the cabin, or in Bright Falls proper. They're in a room of a farmhouse that belongs to an old pair of local legends. ]

Alan. Are you okay?

[ What happens next seems to blend together into a crazy blur, but somehow, Alan can still follow it. The vibration travels through the door and into his hand, but he doesn't pull away from it. Some instinct tells him this isn't a bad thing. This could help him; it could help get him away from Barbara and her insidious words that weave their way into his mind. It's his mind, and he doesn't want anyone getting into it, at least not in the way that Barbara's doing.

A voice echoes and Alan freezes in his tracks. He's not afraid somehow, and he dimly remembers hearing a voice like that before. Even the heavy breathing is almost welcome. ]

I don't know how you always seem to show up just when I need something, but I'm not complaining.

[ He steps back as he was told, the door swings open, and everything is engulfed in light. Alan traces the sound of the voice and the breathing to the man in the diving suit that's floating above the floor. ]

Thanks... thanks for coming, even if it was only because- well, because someone made it happen. You still came.

[ The relief in Alan's voice is all but unmistakable. ] I'm really sorry about Barbara. I wish-

[ He doesn't get to finish the sentence, or maybe he doesn't finish because he doesn't know what else to say. A part of him doesn't want to leave the Diver behind, but Alan knows somehow that he has to go. ] You'll be okay, right? You'll get to see Barbara again. Your Barbara.

[ Somehow, Alan feels like that's important; he wants to know that the Diver will be all right, even if he never sees him again.

After a moment's pause, Alan starts to move, following the sound and the geometric pattern down a path, across a bridge, and up a hill. Then he reaches a car, and he reaches out for the door of the car, but something stops him. A touch, and then a voice... and then a stronger but somehow still panicked voice.

Alan jolts awake to find Jesse there with her hands on his shoulders. He gasps several times in succession as if he can't catch his breath, and he glances wildly around the room as if looking for Barbara's dark, creepy figure. ]

What- What happened? [ It takes a few more seconds for his breathing to slow and for his recollection of where he is to return. A hand clasps the side of his head as he tries to pull himself together. ]

[ The Diver remains quiet at Alan's sentiments. Perhaps he is no longer Zane as Alan understands him. Does he truly have a Barbara? Or, does he merely remember having a Barbara cause the story demands it? Fiction and reality have blended to a level that perhaps it simply is the truth now.

Jesse pulls her hands away the moment Alan wakes up. They hover above him, hesitant to touch him as he wildly looks around. His hand clasps his head. Jesse glances to the side. She sits up properly, still wearing her top from the night and activities before. ]

You were thrashing around and groaning. Did... you have a bad dream? Dreams?

[ « Did I do something wrong? It didn't seem like I did... » ]

[ Part of Alan wants to just lie down again next to Jesse and pull her in, forgetting about the harrowing images he saw in his dream. Was it a dream, or was it a nightmare? To him, "nightmare" seems more accurate. Whatever it was, he just wants to be next to Jesse and focus on her and not on the recollection that he was all but tricked into writing a story he didn't want to write.

But even that's complicated, because he wanted to save Alice, didn't he? He shakes his head once; Barbara had him so confused that he didn't even really know which way was up. ]

A dream. A nightmare. Maybe a dream that became a nightmare. I don't know what you'd call it, but- but I remember more now. Somehow, the dream helped me remember.

[ But even though he can remember the details, he feels as though he has to desperately hold onto those details or they'll start to slip away from him. ]

I didn't wake you up, did I?

[ Green eyes snap to his gray ones. He's laying down next to her, but she's sat up in order to try and wake him. Her hands drop to her lap. ]

You remembered that missing week? What happened?

[ « Does he remember what he wrote in th estory? Why WE'RE in the story? I know, you wanted me here for a reason. Something about the Dark Presence. But, maybe there's more to it. Maybe I can learn something that will explain what happened in Ordinary...

He knows sometbing about how all this works. Doesn't he? He HAS to. He wrote this story! » ]

What do you remember?

[ He should sit up too, but his mind is still reeling with what it can remember of the dream. What he can remember is vividly clear in his mind, and he can hear the sounds of the lake's waves and Barbara's voice and Alice's voice calling for him. His hands clench into fists as he tries his best to sort through what he saw in his dream. ]

I remember... Alice drowned, or Barbara said she did. She said I could fix it by writing the story. Changing the story to save Alice. I could get it all back if I just wrote the right things.

But I didn't want to; I mean, I wanted to, but not like that. Not with some creepy lady all in black hovering over me. [ He scrubs his face with one hand as bits of memories come and go. ]

There was a sound at the window, and a diver. I think I've seen the diver before. The diver was trying to help, and the sound... the sound was too, somehow. Barbara didn't want me looking out the window; she didn't want me hearing the sound. But I did look out the window sometimes, and I couldn't not hear the sound.

The sound and the diver got me out. I wonder what happened to the diver after that.

[ « Barbara? Jagger. The Scratching Hag, right? That local legend... and the Diver must be Thomas Zane. Alan had contact with them at the Lake.

Wait. »

A sound?

« He must mean YOU. Doesn't he? You reached out to him to help him. To stop the Dark Presence from getting in. Stopping this story. »

Jesse's hands curl slightly in the blankets. ]

That's her--my friend. That sound you heard. That was Polaris.

[ Alice drowned. Allegedly. Her gaze darts to the side once more in thought. Her lips press into a line.

« So... she's either really here, trapped in the Lake. Or, she's back home in their apartment in New York City? Something tells me we can't just call and see. We need to get back tl the Lake. If thr story lets us.

Did he write us into thr story because we were here already? Or, did you know he was going to, so you brought me here for that? Do the details really matter? You helped us shut off the Slide Projector. Now, you're helping Alan. » ]

You did write the story. Just how Jagger wanted you to. [ A nod. ] Which means we have to keep going with how the story goes... until some point.

Edited 2024-08-18 19:33 (UTC)

Polaris.

[ Alan repeats the name aloud, although he's heard it before. He knows the name. He knows Jesse's friend, her guide. Well, he knows her because Jesse's told him about her, and because Polaris has let him know her. Either way, just hearing the name spoken out loud causes Alan to relax. Why? Somehow, on some level, Alan associates Polaris and by extension, Jesse, with a feeling of safety.

Even if they're not safe, not by a long shot, there's a sense of security that he feels when he's around them. Maybe it's because he could still be haunted by Barbara. Maybe it's because he knows there's darker things out there, and Polaris and Jesse are the opposite of that. ]

Yeah. I wrote the story. [ He shakes his head, trying to shake off the feeling that all of this is his fault. It's all happening because of him. ] Until some point. That's the key, isn't it? It's the key, and we don't even know how long this will all go. How many turns will the story take?

[ A pause, and another shake of his head. ]

Shouldn't I know that?

[ At the sound of the given name, a familiar brush moves at the back of Alan's mind. A gentle sound can be heard. The same from the distance in the Lake, and the same soft touch from the car he had found after being released from the Lake. A touch that's rather similar to the feeling of the red head young woman's hands. ]

I don't know. The most we can do is find the pages. [ Jesse hesitantly looks back down at him. Somehow, her next question has her feeling anxious. ] Does that--did you write me into the story on purpose? Polaris?

[ « I just... I need to hear him say it. That all of THIS--us--isn't because of this crazy story. It's not happening because it was written in. That it's... I know he's said it before. But, now he remembers, and... » ]

...are we only... because of the story?

[ That brush against his mind makes him close his eyes and pause for a moment. Something about it instantly relaxes him and makes him forget about anything he's worried or stressed about. ]

I know you're right, that that's all we can do, but- [ Alan's brow furrows into a frown and he almost lets out a frustrated groan. He wishes that the path he needs to take could be clearer. Why can't the steps he needs to take be more obvious? Would that be too easy? Maybe. But he can't stop himself from wishing for it.

But then he hears Jesse's question, and his own frustrated questions grind to a halt in his mind. ]

It's not just because of the story. [ He may not be certain of very much, but he's certain of that one thing, at least. ] I wanted... I wanted you with me. Both of you.

[ Maybe it's his first time stating that so clearly, but he knew it was true even before he said it. ]

I wanted to be with you. I want to be with you. [ There's no past tense in his mind, just a future. Whatever future they can have together. ]

[ Jesse's expression softens at his statements. She doesn't manage her typical one word answer. Instead, her head ducks down, and she curls up beside him once more. Her red hair spreads out over his shoulder and around her face.

« We need to get moving soon. Especially before Barry wakes up. I definitely don't want to try and explain this to him. »

Polaris gently hums in the back of their minds. The morning light has made the sound more prominent; able to resonate better. Louder. Brighter. ]

[ They do need to get moving, but moving is the last thing Alan wants to do. I know we need to go, but I'm not ready. I don't know if I'll ever be ready. I just want to have this for a little while longer.

He hears and feels Polaris humming, and he knows it's a good idea to move while it's light out, but the lure of just staying like this is strong.

Shifting slightly, he moves in a little closer to her, pulling her in at the same time. ]

It's nice, being like this. With you.

[ Jesse curls into him the moment he shifts closer. Her forehead rests at the point his neck and shoulder meet. One hand curls around his arm and the other nestled between them. There is a warmth in her chest that she hasn't felt... in a very long time.

Her eyes drift shut. She can't fall asleep again. But, a few more minutes of resting couldn't hurt. She hasn't even heard Barry move at all downstairs. ]

Yeah. It's nice. [ She means it too. ] ... Do you have a hangover?

[ « Probably best to ask. Just in case. » ]

[ He feels as though he can't adequately put into words how this moment makes him feel, and as a writer, that's saying something. But when Jesse rests against him, he feels complete; more complete than he can say he's felt in a very long time. This is one moment he doesn't want to end, but it will end, whether they're ready for it or not. ]

It's more than nice, it's... [ He pauses, trying to think about what exactly this is, and how he can put it into words. But he decides to answer her question first. ]

... Maybe a little. [ And that's his own fault, just like it's always been. ]

[ One eye cracks open to look up at him. A smirk touches her face as he can't come up with a way to describe how it feels. Alan Wake of all people--famous writer of the Alex Casey novels. It might not need a description for the moment. Not until the insanity is over and they can leave Bright Falls. ]

Well, the place belongs to a pair of rock gods. Right? They probably have something for it downstairs.

[ A beat passes before Jesse gently squeezes him. Then, she pulls away. She sits up and slides from the bed they've taken over.

« How do we explain that we slept together in a house belonging to a pair of rock gods? Probably best if we don't tell anyone at all. » ]

I'm surprised Barry hasn't made a sound. Does he usually sleep like a log? [ She runs her hands through her hair to straighten it and then slides back into the bottom half of her underwear and jeans. ] Or is that because of the moonshine you two had?

[ Jesse turns to look at him. Hands lift to her hair to resit her ponytail. ] Do ... you think you'll go back to writing after this? I mean, writing the actual novel called "Departure."

Edited 2024-09-13 00:10 (UTC)

Rock gods don't get hangovers, or something like that. At least, that's something I could hear them saying. But I'm not a rock god, so...

[ He hopes there's something for it downstairs, otherwise he's in for a pretty bad time. At least Jesse being here makes it better. He watches as she pulls away, sitting up and then sliding from the bed. ]

Barry? Yeah, he does. All that talking that he does wears him out, you know. [ Alan smiles to show that he's kidding. Barry might be a pain in the ass sometimes, but Alan still thinks fondly of him. ] The moonshine probably just added to it.

[ His eyebrows lift slightly as her question sinks in. He always had an idea for writing stories based around the hero's journey. Just because the titles and the stories got co-opted by the Dark Presence doesn't mean he can't write the stories he wanted to. ]

I'd like to, one day. I always wanted to write, to tell stories.

[ A pause. ]

Would you read it if I wrote it?

They can say that all they want. [ Her nose scrunches. ] They still get hangovers.

[ Jesse nods. Barry seems alright, just ultimately not impressed by her because "she's a kid, Al." Though from what she heard? Barry was willing to trust Rose, who isn't much older than her.

« Which means it's because she's the mega fan of Alan Wake. Figures. »

She offers him a small smile. Something more typical of her than what someone would expect. Maybe he's more aware of that now. ]

Yeah. I would. [ She starts picking up his clothes for him. ] You'll need someone to proof read them... right?

[ Alan will see her hidden meaning. She's sure of it. She intends to stay as long as he will keep her around. ]

Maybe they don't; maybe they really take after mythical gods of rock and- Okay, yeah, they get hangovers.

[ Alan would laugh but that would just make his head hurt more, so he settles for a quick chuckle instead. ]

Really? You wouldn't just write it off as bad fiction that probably belongs in a dime store? If dime stores still existed, anyway.

[ And then his eyebrows lift in surprise, because whatever he was expecting, it wasn't that. ]

Yeah, I- Are you offering? It wouldn't be a quick job. [ He thinks he sees her hidden meaning, but he wonders if she'll see that his own is just asking for confirmation that she's willing to stay with him for the long haul. ]

Right. And, I'm not some crazy girl chasing after aliens.

[ Although she really is... isn't she?

Jesse nods to his next question. A shy look takes her eyes before darting to the side. Maybe he wouldn't consider her the best person for feedback. She might not even be qualified. Still, she's ready his books. She has even thought of reading the Alex Casey books now that she has met him. ]

I don't mind staying somewhere... if it's a place I can stay a while at.

You're not crazy at all, though. Aliens... Well, maybe there's that, but I know you're not crazy.

[ Maybe she isn't qualified, technically speaking, but she's the only one here, the only one who's stuck with him and not gone running off screaming at the weird situation they've found themselves in. He doesn't mean that he's settling for her because she's all he has; he's beyond grateful that she's here, that she hasn't gone off screaming, and it means the world to him that she's offering to help.

He's just not the best at saying it. ]

It wouldn't just be "somewhere", unless you wanted it to be. I have an apartment, or we could rent another one for you to stay in.

Edited 2024-10-13 23:14 (UTC)

[ She gives barely a smile. ] Isn't that what something like the Dark Presence would be? An alien.

[ Jesse pauses at the door to the bedroom. She looks back at Alan, a small frown on her face. ] The apartment with your ex-wife?

[ She can already imagine all the problems that would cause. Alan Wake bringing home a younger woman after his vacation. The divorce still finalizing. Her gaze drifts to the side. Her hand clutches at the door handle. She doesn't want to be the center of the attention.

« Maybe its inevitable because he's famous. » ]

We could get our own place somewhere. New. [ She glances at him and opens the door once he's dressed. ] Somewhere with no leftovers memories.

Technically, sure, but the Dark Presence is a real threat. It's not some fictional thing that people say exists; it actually does exist, and it can actually hurt you. No, you're not crazy.

[ She asks about the apartment he once shared with Alice, and he realizes with a jolt that she's right in questioning it. ] ... Yeah. No, you're right, of course. We'll sell the apartment and buy a new one just for the two of us. We can set it up however we want and make it ours.

[ As soon as he's finished getting dressed, he steps over to her and reaches out for her, wanting to hold her hand, or just hold her. Whatever she lets him do. Whatever they have time for, before they need to get going again. ]

[ Jesse nods, understanding the difference in what he means by the term. Alan uses it to mean the fictional little green or gray beings. Not the actual alien from another plane, dimension, whatever they want to call it.

His decision makes her pause. Her expression softens. Somehow, the idea that he'd truly want to live with her is one she is still trying to grasp. The fact he'd be willing to fully close the book on everything with Alice--everything before Bright Falls--and just simply accept walking into a new life with her... ]

Where do you--[ she's cut odd even as she takes his hand. ]

"Al! You better get down here!"

Come on. [ Jesse squeezes his hand and leads him down the stairs. Slowly, as she imagines his headache is roaring with the hangover.

She can see Barry at the window. The moment their feet touch the last step, Jesse freezes. Polaris shimmers around her. A click is heard. Something cool and metallic goes to Alan's head. ]

Hold it right there, James Joyce! This whole thing is your fault and you're going to pay for it!

[ Everything in Jesse's mind screams at her to run away. They found her, they've caught up, they're going to take her away. Lock her up. Try to take away Alan and Polaris. If she runs? They'll take Alan. Barry. But, everything screams at her to let go of his hand and bolt through the front door. Keep running.

Her hand doesn't let go of Alan's even as it begins to shake uncontrollably.

Her eyes dart to Barry, who puts his hands up with another gun to his head. The police department of Bright Falls. ]

[ Alan opens his mouth to answer, but he doesn't get to even start, because Barry interrupts at just that exact moment, and it sounds pretty urgent. When Jesse squeezes his hand, he smiles at her once more and follows her down the stairs, appreciating the slow pace that she takes. He doesn't want to make a big deal about it, but his head does still kind of hurt, thanks to the bad choices he made the previous night.

As they make their way down to rejoin Barry, Alan almost stops to wave at his old friend and call out some kind of banter about how his hangover's doing, but he doesn't get the chance.

The unmistakable cold metal of a gun presses against his head, and of course, that click sound could only belong to one thing. Alan freezes in place, narrowly resisting the urge to roll his eyes. He knows that voice, and he knows only one person would insist on using those annoying nicknames.

He feels Jesse tense up, and looking sideways at her, she looks more than a little panicked. Alan squeezes her hand, but his focus is on how the hell they're going to get out of this situation.

He doesn't move or try to pull away, because that seems like a good way to get a bullet in the head. Instead, he just stands as still as he can, trying not to move, as he starts to talk. ]

Hey, how about we hold off on the fireworks and talk about whatever this is? I get it, it's my fault, whatever's going on here, but Barry and Jesse aren't involved. I dragged them both into this, okay?

[ Green eyes shoot next to her to look at Alan the moment he starts to talk. Something tells her the FBI Agent isn't interested in talking.

That fear still spikes through her. She can't run though. She can't abandon Alan or Barry like she did with Dylan. That can't happen again. She can't be that person anymore. Not if Alan really... ]

Shut up, Dan Brown! It doesn't matter if you "dragged" them in! They're just as involved as you. We're taking all of you in.

[ Jesse firmly places her feet against the ground. She hears the clicking of handcuffs. She tries to control the shaking, but knows she really can't. This whole thing isn't on her terms. It was a surprise.

Another member of the sherrif station comes up and grabs Jesse by the arm. They tug her away before forcing her arms behind her back and cuffing her. Barry protests the whole time about it. Jesse simply stares at the ground and locks herself down. Trying to control her emotions. ]

oceanview (different path) || ❝ turn the page i need to see something new. ❞

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I lost this tag omg

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